No. 7 SMU Opens ACC Play at Pitt With Unbeaten Record

No. 7 SMU has spent the opening weeks of the 2026 season looking like one of the most complete teams in college soccer. Now the Mustangs get their first ACC test.

SMU visits Pitt on Friday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field in Pittsburgh, carrying a 5-0-1 record into conference play after a dominant non-conference run.

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The Mustangs have scored 19 goals and allowed just two, giving them a plus-17 goal differential through six matches.

That balance is what makes this team dangerous.

Offensively, Mukisa Emmanuel has emerged as one of the ACC’s top threats with five goals in six appearances.

Senior wingback Jaylinn Mitchell has been just as important creatively, producing five assists and one goal while helping drive SMU’s attack from a deeper position.

Mitchell’s early-season form has already earned him ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors, and his decision to return for his senior season after being selected in the first round by Minnesota United has paid off quickly for the Mustangs.

SMU enters Friday coming off a convincing 3-0 win over Incarnate Word. Stephan Soghomonian, Emmanuel and Enzo Panozzo supplied the goals as the Mustangs overwhelmed UIW with a 21-4 advantage in shots.

That performance continued a strong start that has included a 4-0 road victory over then-No. 4 Saint Louis and shutout wins over LMU and Houston Christian.

Friday represents a different challenge.

Pitt enters ACC play at 3-1-1 and will have home-field advantage in what will be SMU’s first-ever trip to Pittsburgh.

The programs have met only once before, with Pitt beating SMU 3-1 in Dallas during the Mustangs’ first ACC match in 2024.

SMU has plenty of motivation to flip that result.

The Mustangs currently rank among the national leaders in goal differential while also leading the ACC in several offensive categories.

Their defense has been equally impressive, conceding an average of just 0.33 goals per game.

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The next step is proving those numbers travel into conference play.

Friday’s match kicks off at 6 p.m. CT and will be televised on ACC Network Extra.